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CGNX Stock Analysis - COGNEX CORP AI Rating

CGNX Nasdaq Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, and Control MA CIK: 0000851205
Recently Updated • Analysis: Mar 22, 2026 • SEC Data: 2025-12-31
AI Rating
BUY
78% Confidence

📊 CGNX Key Takeaways

Revenue: $994.4M
Net Margin: 11.5%
Free Cash Flow: $236.8M
Current Ratio: 3.80x
Debt/Equity: 0.00x
EPS: $0.68
AI Rating: BUY with 78% confidence

Investment Thesis

Cognex demonstrates solid fundamental strength with robust profitability (66.9% gross margin, 11.5% net margin) and healthy year-over-year growth (8.7% revenue, 9.7% EPS growth). The company maintains an exceptionally strong balance sheet with zero long-term debt, substantial free cash flow generation ($236.8M, 23.8% FCF margin), and excellent liquidity (3.80x current ratio), positioning it well for strategic investments and shareholder returns.

CGNX Strengths

  • + Exceptional gross margin of 66.9% indicates pricing power and operational efficiency in manufacturing/detection technology
  • + Strong free cash flow generation of $236.8M (23.8% of revenue) exceeds capex needs by 27x, providing financial flexibility
  • + Zero long-term debt with $262.9M cash position and 3.80x current ratio reflects fortress-like balance sheet
  • + Consistent profitability with 11.5% net margin and positive YoY growth across revenue (8.7%) and EPS (9.7%)
  • + Significant insider activity (30 Form 4 filings in 90 days) may indicate management confidence

CGNX Risks

  • ! Modest return on equity (7.7%) and return on assets (5.7%) suggest capital is not being deployed at optimal efficiency despite strong cash generation
  • ! Operating margin of 16.3% is reasonable but leaves room for operational leverage improvement
  • ! Revenue growth of 8.7% is moderate, raising questions about market penetration and competitive positioning in industrial automation sector
  • ! Data freshness date of 2025-12-31 appears inconsistent with analysis date; recommend verification of current reporting period

Key Metrics to Watch

CGNX Financial Metrics

Revenue
$994.4M
Net Income
$114.4M
EPS (Diluted)
$0.68
Free Cash Flow
$236.8M
Total Assets
$2.0B
Cash Position
$262.9M

💡 AI Analyst Insight

The 23.8% free cash flow margin provides substantial flexibility for dividends, buybacks, and strategic investments. Strong liquidity with a 3.80x current ratio provides a solid financial cushion.

CGNX Profitability Ratios

Gross Margin 66.9%
Operating Margin 16.3%
Net Margin 11.5%
ROE 7.7%
ROA 5.7%
FCF Margin 23.8%

CGNX vs Industrial Sector

How COGNEX CORP compares to Industrial sector averages

Net Margin
CGNX 11.5%
vs
Sector Avg 10.0%
CGNX Sector
ROE
CGNX 7.7%
vs
Sector Avg 15.0%
CGNX Sector
Current Ratio
CGNX 3.8x
vs
Sector Avg 1.8x
CGNX Sector
Debt/Equity
CGNX 0.0x
vs
Sector Avg 0.7x
CGNX Sector

Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.

CGNX Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Current Ratio
3.80x
Quick Ratio
3.05x
Debt/Equity
0.00x
Debt/Assets
26.0%
Interest Coverage
N/A
Long-term Debt
N/A

CGNX 5-Year Financial Trend

CGNX 5-year financial data: Year 2021: Revenue $1.0B, Net Income $203.9M, EPS $1.16. Year 2022: Revenue $1.0B, Net Income $176.2M, EPS $1.00. Year 2023: Revenue $1.0B, Net Income $279.9M, EPS $1.56. Year 2024: Revenue $1.0B, Net Income $215.5M, EPS $1.23. Year 2025: Revenue $994.4M, Net Income $113.2M, EPS $0.65.
Revenue
Net Income
EPS (right axis)

5-Year Trend Summary: COGNEX CORP's revenue has remained relatively flat over the 5-year period, with a 4% decline. The most recent EPS of $0.65 reflects profitable operations.

CGNX Growth Metrics (YoY)

Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Net Income Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
EPS Growth
N/A
Earnings per share
FCF Margin
23.8%
Free cash flow / Revenue

CGNX Quarterly Performance

Quarterly financial performance data for COGNEX CORP including revenue, net income, and earnings per share.
Quarter Revenue Net Income EPS
Q3 2025 $234.7M $17.7M $0.10
Q2 2025 $239.3M $36.2M $0.21
Q1 2025 $210.8M $12.0M $0.07
Q3 2024 $197.2M $18.9M $0.11
Q2 2024 $239.3M $36.2M $0.21
Q1 2024 $201.1M $12.0M $0.07
Q3 2023 $197.2M $18.9M $0.11
Q2 2023 $242.5M $57.5M $0.33

Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.

CGNX Capital Allocation

Operating Cash Flow
$245.5M
Cash generated from operations
Stock Buybacks
$151.2M
Shares repurchased (TTM)
Capital Expenditures
$8.7M
Investment in assets
Dividends Paid
$54.6M
Returned to shareholders

CGNX SEC Filings

Access official SEC EDGAR filings for COGNEX CORP (CIK: 0000851205)

📋 Recent SEC Filings

Date Form Document Action
Mar 16, 2026 4 xslF345X05/edgardoc.xml View →
Mar 13, 2026 DEF 14A d48298ddef14a.htm View →
Mar 3, 2026 4 xslF345X05/edgardoc.xml View →
Feb 24, 2026 4 xslF345X05/edgardoc.xml View →
Feb 24, 2026 4 xslF345X05/edgardoc.xml View →

Frequently Asked Questions about CGNX

What is the AI rating for CGNX?

COGNEX CORP (CGNX) has an AI rating of BUY with 78% confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.

What are CGNX's key strengths?

Exceptional gross margin of 66.9% indicates pricing power and operational efficiency in manufacturing/detection technology. Strong free cash flow generation of $236.8M (23.8% of revenue) exceeds capex needs by 27x, providing financial flexibility.

What are the risks of investing in CGNX?

Modest return on equity (7.7%) and return on assets (5.7%) suggest capital is not being deployed at optimal efficiency despite strong cash generation. Operating margin of 16.3% is reasonable but leaves room for operational leverage improvement.

What is CGNX's revenue and growth?

COGNEX CORP reported revenue of $994.4M.

Does CGNX pay dividends?

COGNEX CORP pays dividends, with $54.6M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.

Where can I find CGNX SEC filings?

Official SEC filings for COGNEX CORP (CIK: 0000851205) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.

What is CGNX's EPS?

COGNEX CORP has a diluted EPS of $0.68.

How is the AI analysis conducted?

Our AI (Claude) analyzes publicly available SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports to evaluate financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics.

Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by Claude AI based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: Mar 22, 2026 | Data as of: 2025-12-31 | Powered by Claude AI